Sharon McKinney, executive director of the Texas Inmate Families Association, said that visitation policies have changed significantly, restricting physical contact due to concerns about drug smuggling. McKinney was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.

"A lot of the things that we were allowed to do, like visitation, where you got to hug your loved one, if you had a husband or whatever, you could kiss him at the beginning, you could kiss him at the end, and you could hold hands," said McKinney on a recent edition of the Texas Talks Podcast. “You can't do that now, because that's how the drugs are being passed. We had an escape, back in maybe December, he just walked out of the unit with his mom. He put on a hoodie and walked out of the unit with his mother, who was gone for a couple of days; they found him.”

“Now you hug across the table like we'd have to hug across the table, no holding hands, and you have to sit at your table until your loved one is gone, back behind, lock the door before you can get up and leave, visitation," said McKinney. “That's the difference."

McKinney serves as the executive director of the Texas Incarcerated Families Association (TIFA), where she leads educational initiatives like the New Family Workshop for those with relatives entering the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Parole Workshop for families nearing parole eligibility. TIFA offers its members educational resources, advocacy platforms, and organizing opportunities through regular chapter meetings, an online platform, a quarterly newsletter, and direct access to the executive director.

Texas Talks podcast is hosted by Brad Swail. The weekly show is focused on public policy in the state of Texas, with insights from the people and organizations that influence it.

The podcast is available on Simple Cast and YouTube.